Soap frame stripper



MI. 12, 1935. J W N SGAP FRAME STRfPPER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 13, 1934 John M/oearwr @MW mm Nov. 12, 1935. J. WOESNER SOAP FRAME STRIPPER Filed Aug. 13, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gvwem/tov John Mes ner Patented Nov. 12, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SOAP FRAME STRIPPER John Woesner, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to The Cincinnati Soap Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio This invention relates to a soap frame stripper, the principal object of the invention being to provide apparatus for removing one-piece soap frames from blocks of soap efficiently and in a minimum of time.

Another object is to provide stripping apparatus of the kind described which may be operated by unskilled labor.

Another object is to provide means of this kind having automatic stop means associated therewith to preclude possible injury to the apparatus and soap.

Another object is to provide a soap frame stripper which combines the characteristics of simplicity, strength and durability.

These and other objects are attained by the means described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. i is a side elevational view of the soap frame stripper of this invention with a truck mounted and framed block of soap shown operatively associated therewith.

Fig. 2 is a view taken from the right end of the apparatus seen in Fig. 1, the elevated support being shown in cross section and certain parts removed.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the soap frame stripper.

In the process of soap manufacturing, it is customary to pour the soap, in a liquid or semi-plastic state, into a soap frame generally rectangular in cross section and mounted on a truck. The surface of the truck forms the bottom of the mold provided by the soap frame and after the soap has hardened within the frame, it is necessary to remove the frame so that the remaining manufacturing steps may be carried out upon the block of soap formed within the mold or frame. The removal of the soap frame has heretofore been a considerable problem due to the fact that the frame adheres with great force to the molded soap over the entire interior area of the frame. Nevertheless, it is expedient to remove the frame with the smallest possible injury to the soap, so that expensive wastage is avoided. Various means have been provided heretofore for removing the soap frame. In cases where the older types of soap frames comprising separate side and end pieces are utilized, the removal of the frame is merelj a breaking down process but this type of frame has, to a great extent, been replaced by one-piece frames which must be raised off the hardened block of soap. This has been done by the use of crow bars and various other instruments utilized in loosening the frame from the soap, but, as above indicated results have been generally unsatisfactory. The present invention provides an elevated support having hoisting mechanism associated therewith and adapted to engage the top of the soap frame. Cooperating 5 with the hoisting mechanism, the present invention provides for vertically adjustable stop means which bear down upon the top of the hardened soap block to preclude its being hoisted along with the soap frame. invention, the truck mounted and framed block of soap may run beneath the elevated support and the hoisting operation carried out in a minimum of time and in a greatly improved manner so far as the obviating of wastage is concerned. 15 In greater detail and with reference to the drawings, the device of this invention comprises an elevated support 5 which may be of generally rectangular outline and may consist of metal beams including the side members 6 and the end 2'0- members 1. The elevated support 5 may be mounted upon four standards 8, one at each corner of the elevated support.

The hoisting mechanism, according to this invention, comprises a drive shaft 9 mounted trans- 2B versely of the elevated support in suitable bearings l0. At one end of the support a motor I I having a drive pulley l2 associated therewith, may be positioned. A belt l3 connects the drive pulley l2 with an enlarged drive wheel [4 pro- 30 vided at one end of the drive shaft 9. On each side of the drive shaft 9, and in parallel relationship therewith, driven shafts l5 and I6 are mounted in suitable bearings I1 and l 8. The driven shafts I5 and it each has fixed thereto a large gear I9 35 and 20 respectively which mesh with a small drive gear 2| mounted on the drive shaft 9.

Adjacent each end of the driven shafts l6 and H, a sprocket wheel 22 embraced by sheaves 23 may be mounted fixedly. With each sprocket 22 40 a sprocket chain 24 is associated. The outer ends of the sprocket chains 24 have hooks 25 attached thereto. By reference to Fig. 1 it will be seen that hooks 25 are adapted to engage eye members 26 attached to the top of a one-piece soap 45 frame 2! positioned beneath the elevated support on its truck 28. It will further be obvious that when the motor pulley I2 is actuated in the proper direction, the sprockets 2| will wind up the sprocket chains 24 and effect hoisting of the soap 50 frame 21. Here it may be noted that the speed of hoisting movement increases with the winding up of the sprocket chains due to the fact that the convolutions of the latter as built up between the sheaves 23 become increasingly greater with 55 5 By the use of the present 10 the winding up of the chains. It may likewise be pointed out here that the upward movement of the soap frame and the operation of the hoisting mechanism may be automatically checked by the use of a switch member 29 associated (Fig. l) with the elevated support and provided with an operating lever 39 which extends into the upward path of the soap frame so thatwhen the latter contacts the lever 38, at a predetermined limit of movement, the motor H is shut off. The upwardly moved position of the soap frame and lever will be seen in dotted lines in Fig. 1.. It will be observed that the soap frame shown here in is of the upwardly tapered type so that, once the frame has been loosened from the soap block, it may be more readily removed therefrom.

In order to hoist the soap frame as above described, without at the same time carrying both the block of soap and truck upwardly along therewith, it is necessary to provide means for precluding upward movement of the soap block. For this purpose, there is provided, according to this invention, a stop member consisting of a plate 3! which is attached to the elevated support 5 by a set of toggle arms 32. The toggle arm mechanism may comprise an elongated shaft 33 which at the middle has secured thereto an operating wheel 34. On each side of the wheel 34 right and left hand threads respectively are provided on the shaft. Shaft 33 extends through blocks 35 and 35, one on each side of the wheel 34 and associated respectively with the right and left hand threads of the shaft 33. A pair of toggle arms 32 is pivotally mounted by one end, on each side of each block 35 and 36 as seen in Fig. 2. The upper ends of the toggle arms are pivotally connected to transverse shaftsfll extending across the elevated support 5. The lower ends of the toggle arms are connected, as at 38, Fig. 2, to the stop member or plate 3 l, adjacent each corner thereof.

It will be seen that by turning of the operating wheel 34, the toggle arms are actuated for either drawing up or moving downwardly the plate 3i. In Fig. 1 the plate is shown as not yet lowered against the top of the block of soap positioned therebeneath. Further lowering of the plate by actuation of the toggle mechanism will result in contact of said plate against the top of the block of soap. The plate 3! is 01 similar outline to but offsmaller dimensions than the top face of the soap block so that there is no interference of the plate 3! with the soap frame 21. 7

It is obvious when the plate has been brought to bear against the block of soap, the hoisting mechanism may be operated and the soap frame raised from off the block of soap without upward movement of the soap or the truck 28 upon which it rests. It will further be obvious that the operation requires but a brief interval of time and that the loaded trucks 2% may be passed under the elevated support in rapid succession.

What is claimed is: V

l. A soap frame stripper comprising an elevated support, hoisting means associated with the support and adapted to engage and raise the frame encasing a block of framed soap positioned under said support, said hoisting means compris ing a pair of shafts mounted on said support, a pair of sprocket wheels mounted on each shaft, means for driving the shafts, and a sprocket chain carried by each wheel and adapted to enge the soap frame and to be raised and lowered by operation of said driving means, and means associated with s i pport for precluding hoisting of the block of soap along with the soap frame. 7

2. A soap frame stripper comprising an elevated support, hoisting means associated with the support and adapted to engage and raise the 5 frame encasing a block of framed soap positioned under said support, said hoisting means comprising a pair of shafts mounted on said support, a pair of sprocket wheels mounted on each shaft, means for driving the shafts, a sprocket chain carried by each wheel and adapted to engage the soap frame and to be raised and lowered by operation of said driving means, and means associated with said support for precluding hoisting of the block of soap along with'the soap frame, 15 said means comprising a plate adapted to contact the top of the positioned block of soap, a set of toggle arms attached to said support and plate, and means for adjusting the toggle arms to effect vertical reciprocation of the plate.

3. A soap frame stripper comprising an elevated support, hoisting means associated with the support and adapted to engage and raise the frame encasing a block of framed'soap positioned under said support, said hoisting means com- 25 prising a pair of shafts mounted on said support, a pair of sprocket wheels mounted on each shaft, means for driving the shafts, and a sprocket chain carried by each wheel and adapted to engage the soap frame and to be raised 3.431

and lowered by operation of said driving means, means associated with said support for precluding hoisting of the block of soap along with the soap frame, and means for stopping operation of the driving means upon raising of the soap frame a predetermined distance above the soap.

4. A soap frame stripper comprising a support permanently positioned above a floor surface and providing space therebeneath for the reception of a truck with a framed block of soap thereon, the loaded truck being adapted to be rolled into position beneath said support for the stripping operation and thereafter moved out from beneath said support without change from its origi-'- nal floor-supported level, hoisting means posi- 5,:

tioned on said support and comprising two pairs of power driven sprocket wheels each having a. sprocket chain associated therewith, means for connecting the lower ends of the sprocket chains to opposite sides of the soap frame on the truck, 50.;

said connection means being so placed as to provide for the application of power and the raising of the chains in direct vertical alignment with the respective connecting means, a plate for contact on the top of the positioned block of soap, a set of toggle arms attached to said support and plate and means for adjusting the toggle arms to effect vertical reciprocation of the plate, the toggle arms being adapted to apply vertical forces against the block of soap in equalized relationship with the upward forces exerted by said sprocket chains whereby the frame lifting forces and the block holding forces are substantially equalized and balanced for precluding injury to the soap block.

5. A soap frame strip-per comprising a support permanently positioned above a floor surface and providing space therebeneath for the reception of a truck with a framed block of soap thereon, the loaded truck being adapted to be rolled into 7 position beneath said support for the stripping operation and thereafter moved out from beneath said support without change from its original floor-supported level, power-operated hoisting means on said support and comprising a plurality of vertically hoistable members attachable to said frame at spaced intervals on opposite sides thereof, and means for applying a substantially vertical holding force against the top of the block of soap and in those areas thereof adjacent each of said hoistable members whereby equally distributed raising and holding forces are applied to frame and soap block for obviating injury to the latter by the frame.

6. A soap frame stripper comprising an elevated support, electrically operated hoisting means associated with the support and adapted to engage and raise the frame encasing a block of soap under said support, means associated with said support for precluding hoisting of the block of soap along with the frame, and a lever switch controlling the electrically operated hoisting means and projecting into the path of the soap frame in such position as to be contacted and operated by the latter when the frame has been completely elevated above the soap block, for stopping operation of the hoisting means.

JOHN WOESNER. 

